ADAS Calibration, Diagnostics And Repairs

ADAS is a generic name that stands for advanced driver assistance systems and it can refer to a huge number of driver assistance systems and many of these systems can use cameras, radars and various other sensor technology to aid the driver .
This technology has been around for a while in high end vehicles but now is present in nearly all new vehicles
These technologies are designed to increase the vehicles overall safety.

Here is a list of some of the systems that can be fitted on today’s vehicles,

• ACC – ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
• ANV – AUTOMOTIVE NIGHT VISION
• AEB – AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING
• BSD – BLIND SPOT DETECTION, BSM – BLIND SPOT MONITORING, BSW – BLIND SPOT WARNING
• CDW – COLLISION DETECTION WARNING
• DDW – DROWSY DRIVER WARNING, DFW – DRIVER FATIGUE WARNING, DDD – DRIVER DROWSINESS DETECTION,
  DMS – DRIVER MONITORING SYSTEM
• FCW – FORWARD COLLISION WARNING, FCWS – FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM, FCA – FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
• LDW – LANE DEPARTURE WARNING, LDWS – LANE DEPARTURE WARNING SYSTEM
• LKA – LANE KEEPING ASSIST
• PD – PEDESTRIAN DETECTION, PDS – PEDESTRIAN DETECTION SYSTEM
• TLR – TRAFFIC LIGHT RECOGNITION
• And many more

Below are some examples of why you would need to carry out the checking/calibration on these systems:

• If the vehicle has been in an crash and needs a replacement radar or cameras
• The windscreen has been replaced and it has a camera mounted on it
• If the vehicle had suspension repairs and or wheels alignment
• If a system has lost its calibration
• When replacing faulty units
• When any of the ADAS systems are not working correctly
• If cameras or radar unit had to be removed to gain access to other components
• If distance measurement to the car ahead is incorrect

Note most manufactures use this type of equipment to perform whats called static ADAS calibration where this type of special equipment and diagnostic software is used to perform a stationary calibration,
There are some manufactures that calibrate some of there cameras and radars with whats called a dynamic ADAS calibration, to perform this you have to connect a diagnostic tool and force the ADAS ECU into a learning/calibration mode and then you will be prompted to drive the vehicle at a certain speed and for a certain distance on a good road with good clear line markings, and if all conditions are correct and all instructions followed the system will dynamically calibrate,
The big disadvantage with dynamic calibrations is that you have to have good clear weather conditions, good road conditions and daylight,
This is why most manufactures do static calibrations,

But at Ryan’s Automotive we have the diagnostic software necessary to complete dynamic calibrations also

Before we carry out an ADAS Calibration we conduct the below prechecks and any other prechecks the manufacture recommends.

• Test drive the vehicle to ensure it is in good general condition.
• Check camera & radar mounting points to ensure they’re secure tight and clean.
• Check steering and suspension system.
• Check tyre pressure condition and sizes.
• Check wheel alignment. (For truck Calibrations you will need to have this done elsewhere)
• Check steering angle sensor calibration.
• Scan the complete vehicle for fault codes.

It is very important that all of the above is checked and is correct to ensure an optimal camera/radar calibration.

If your vehicle has any of these systems fitted it would be classed as having a ADAS system and it will have cameras and or radars fitted that may need checking and calibrating (below is the main types but there are others)
If you are unsure if you vehicle has a ADAS system fitted give us a call and we can check for you

• ACC – ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
• ANV – AUTOMOTIVE NIGHT VISION
• AEB – AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING
• BSD – BLIND SPOT DETECTION, BSM – BLIND SPOT MONITORING, BSW – BLIND SPOT WARNING
• CDW – COLLISION DETECTION WARNING
• DDW – DROWSY DRIVER WARNING, DFW – DRIVER FATIGUE WARNING, DDD – DRIVER DROWSINESS DETECTION,
  DMS – DRIVER MONITORING SYSTEM
• FCW – FORWARD COLLISION WARNING, FCWS – FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM, FCA – FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
• LDW – LANE DEPARTURE WARNING, LDWS – LANE DEPARTURE WARNING SYSTEM
• LKA – LANE KEEPING ASSIST
• PD – PEDESTRIAN DETECTION, PDS – PEDESTRIAN DETECTION SYSTEM
• TLR – TRAFFIC LIGHT RECOGNITION
• And many more